Featured Artist: Aijung Kim

The Printmaker's Process

By Aijung Kim
QuailBellMagazine.com

I Went Hunting

I love printmaking because of the process. While I think that interest in the finished art should rise above mere process, process is still a big reason why I continue working in this medium. These days I work primarily in linocuts. Besides the aesthetic appeal, I can use water-based inks and it doesn't require harsh solvents to clean up, which is better for my health—many printmakers can actually have a shortened life-span from the chemicals they use! 

When I create linocuts, I carve a design into linoleum, ink up the plate, and print it onto paper on an etching press. For each color in my prints I have created a separate linoleum plate, although sometimes I add watercolor to a finished print. I love thinking backwards—figuring out what I want the final piece to look like and the best way to make all the separate elements come together. And even in spite of planning, I never really know what my print will look like until I've printed it. When I carve my plate, I first paint black India ink onto it before carving away to reveal the design. Unlike a drawing, where a black line is drawn onto a white piece of paper, linocuts require me to carve the white line—gradually revealing the image out of darkness. While carving and printing can be a lengthy and involved process, I feel that it adds to the richness of the images because I spend so much time with them.

It can be hard to work in printmaking because it does require specialized equipment. But I've been renting space from Studio Two Three in Richmond, and it's a great place to work! I plan to create some new prints soon.

Tattoo

Horse Constellation

One Foot On The Road

View Aijung's etsy store to purchase prints.

#Prints #Printmaking #BlackAndWhite #AijungKim